Dash switch



Dec. 18, 1928. 1,695,939

R. K. WINNING DASH SWITCH Filed June 25, 1925 Fiji. 3/ 6 655 '7 TOR. 29,9%

A T TORNEYS Patented Dec. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT K. WINNING, OEV WAUWATOSA, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO CLUM MANUFAC- TUBING COMPANY, OE' MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

DASH SWITCH.

Application filed .Tune 25, 1925. Serial No. 39,470.

This invention relates to improvements in switches.

The switch herein disclosed is particularly adapted for service in the lighting circuits of motor vehicles and may conveniently be used to Control the dash light circuit. It is one oi the prii'ieipal objects of the invention to provide a novel and improved type of switch mechanism so organized that the switch may be closed and retained in a closed position by one operation of the switch handle and by a. different operation may be closed momentarily or for such a period as the operator continues to manipulate the switch handle.A More particularly stated, it my purpose to provide a switch so organized that a mere pressure at the end ot the switch handle will close the switch for such a period as the pressure is maintained, whereas a rotation of the switch handle will result in depressing the handle and in maintaining it depressed after the operator has released the handle in its new position.

It is a further important object olf the invention to provide switch mechanism adapted inexpensively toensure a quick break in the circuit control by the switch and to accomplish this result through the use of mechanism adapted to maintain a yielding Contact between the terminals of the switch.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a novel, improved and simpliiied switch adapted to be economically manufactured and easily assembled, and having few parts subject to veur; to provid). a switch. :in which closure is effected by au axial movement ot the switch handle aud such axial movement may be ln'ought about either direet-ly by the pressure ot the operatfjifs baiul or by the rotation of the handle to bring the cam sluil'mtes into action to produce axial movement thereof: and to |ufovido a novel Ytorni of cani tor effet-.ting axial movement, oi" the shaft lconsequenl'upon its rotatien.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view ot a switch easing in side elevation, the casing being cut away to a vertical axial sect-ion to expose the switch mechanism embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the switch mechanism adjusted to a different position.

Figure 3 is a detail view vtaken on the section indicated at Bull in Figure 1.

Figure 4 a detail view taken on the section indicated at 4 4 in Figure 1.

Like parts areidentitied by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The switch casing 5 includes a stamped shell 6 to the rear oi which a disk 7 of ber or other insulating material is secured to comprise a terminal head. A two-part mounting plate 8 including plate members 8 and 9 is attached to the front wall 1() of easing shell (j. Plate members 8 and 9 are secured together by the eyelet 11 and by a bezel 12 in the manner more particularly described by me in a companion application.

The switch handle comprises a manually engageable knob portion 15 which preferably corresponds inv diameter with plunger niember 16. The plunger member is guided for axial movement in the eyelet 11, and annular channel 18 extending axially into the plunger 16 is adapted to receive a con'ipression spring 19.

The handle comprising knob 15 and plunger 16 is preferabli7 cast uponv a .switch shaft or stud which .may be designated in its entirety7 by reference character 20 and which includes a polygonal head 21 embedded in the metal of the plunger portion 1G of the handle.` Shank 22 extends through the channeled portion ol" the plunger 16 and is connected integrally with the square shaft section 24. From this square shaft section projects thel round shaft section of re* duced diameter and beyond this is a further reduced round shaft section 26 guided in a metal bushing 27 pressed into place in the terminal head 7.

The casing shell is provided at 3() with a cup shaped depression in its front wall 10. in the liiottom ot this depression are arcuate slots 31 coi'icentrie with the is of .shalt 20. tbe sipuire portion 2li oi' which;extends a concavely depressed portion 50 ot the easing wall. A washer 32 seats against the depressed casing wall and serves as a seat for spring 19.V An aperture in the casing Wall through which shaft asses is sufficiently large to permit ot the ree rotation of the square section 24; of the shaft.

Compression spring 19 tends to forcevout# wardly shaft 2O and the handle cast thereon` Thus, if the handle is depressed in any manner and is vsubsequently released, spring 19 Y spectivc apices 38 act as cam surfaces engti-ging the rear tace of casing wal-l 30. The arciuitetlots in the depressed portion ot' the casing; wall are of such an entent that when the cam webs are properly aligned with these slots Jthey receivable therein shown in Figure l. Thereupon lthe camdisk 35 iinoves axially into contact with the i ar tace ott wall portion 30 under the compression o spring 19 as .exerted through the handle, shaft 2O and split washer Se. It will be obvious, however, that the lcam webs may be moved rcarwari'lly out oli ythe slots 3l either by direct laxial pressure on the knob l5 or by rotatingthe knob to cause the inclined surfaces oit webs- 37 to interact with the rear tace of casing wall port-ion 30 at `the margins of the slots in such wa'll portion. Figure Q shows the parts ol' the switch rotated 90 from :thei r respective positions in which they appear in Figure 1. The rotative movement ot' the handle has been transmitted to the cam disk 35 through the square shaft section upon which the came disk is splined, being` provided with a square hole to lit this shaft section. It will be clear from an inspection `oit Figure 2 that each ot the cam webs 37 has leftits slot 31 duc Vto kthis rotation and the apen 38 ot each cani web has been rotated into registry with an unslotted portion of the rear itacc ot casing wall portion 30.

The tern'iinals :tor wires comprising acircuit adal'ited to be closed by this switch are shown at l() and ll and comprise electrically conductive men'ibers embedded in the dielectric terminal head 7 of the sw h 'af-Jing'. They will preferably be sulfistantially equidistaut from the sleeve 2l' .in which shaft scction 2li ot the switch is reciprocally guided. rEhe circuit closer member comprises an electrically confgluctive, annulau'ly channeled member 413 mounted on a dielectric diag-.-A -l-il which is axially slidable on shaft section 25 and is normally pressed ii contact with split washer 45 by means o t a compression =spring 46. The compression spring is conlined betvif'een a shoulder at the end of shattsection 24E and a. washer l? in face abutment with the dielectric disk lll. rlhis .com- 4pression spring yieleably maintains the clont-aeting close-1' r Vniioi'a bjle switch contzfictelcment 43 norn'ially at its rearward limit of movement with respect to shaft 2G, with respoot ,to .which .thc split washer ll5 .is ,made fasti. gf, however, the switch shaft 2O is axially adjusted rearwardly either by its mere manual depression or by its rotation and the consequent operation of the-cam surfaces above described, the circuitcloser will be .carried rearwardly therewith and will Contact with terminals l() and 4l before the switch Vsliafrt orV stud Vreaches its rearward limit ot n'ioveinen't. During the continued rearwaril movement et the switch lshaft or stud to its ultimate position, spring t6 is subjected to additional compression and split washer 45 moves away slightly from the rear face, ot t ie diei ctric disk 4A.

The dielectric disk eflis not tightly litted section 25 upon which it is slidably l anc i lis looseness of lit ensures that it may adjust itselft under the compression oli spring lo to contact Vfirmly with terminals l() and al1 even though the contact surfaces ol such terminals may not be in a common plane normally to Lie axis ot the switch shaft or stud.

lt will be obvious that the spring 19 primaril called upon to restore handle 15 to its original position when the switch Iis open. lt will huthermore be obvious, however, that the added compression to which spring' il@ is subjected during the ultimate closing; movement olf the contact member 43 will also be available to overcome the initial inertia oii the switch handle and stud shaft as the handle.7 stud and shaft start to move outwardly toward the open switch position. lt will furthermore be `obvious that the -unit conQst-ing` ot the dielectric disk lll and the annular channeled circuit 'close 43 will not initially par) ,like oit the opening movement of the switch 'handle and stud shaft. The arrangement is such that the switch handle and stud shagl't will initially start to nieve (uit-uardly and alter the parts have acquired momentum during: the outward movement, the split washer will strilie the rear 'face he switch closing;v u .it and will thereby sharply break the contact theretoliorc established between terminals 40 and 4 1. This ensures the quick lfireak o'l the circuit without the 'teniflency to arc whichinight otherwise be experieni'zed.

From the roregggoing it will be seen that thc switch herein ilisclosed is so orga-nizeil that it may be closed either by ydirect pressure of the operators hand or by rotation o' the handle which, through the action of .the cani webs 37, results in an axial movement of the switch .closer 43. In the former case the contact will be broken automatically by the above described action of coi'upression springs 19 and Ll-S as vsoon as the pressure of the operators handle knob 15 is released.. ln the latter case the cam noses or apices 38 will be engaged behind the rear surfaces oit casing portion 30 and being so engaged will retain the switch closing memberl 43 in contact With terminals 4() and 4l until the knob lis again rotated in either direction to bring the cam webs 37 into Vregistry with slots 3l and thereby to permit a retractive movement of the operating parts of the switch. Y

It will be obvious furthermore that the mechanism employed to ensure a. positive contact of the circuit closing member with terminals 40 and 41 is also Vorganized to provide for a posit-ive quick acting disengagement of the circuit closer 43 from these terminals, this being done by allowing the switchhandle and associated parts to acquire momentum in their refractive movement before the circuit closing member 4B is acted upon to withdraw it from the terminals.

While I do not desire to limit my invention to the specific construction herein disclosed, neverthelessl prefer this construction as it has many advantages due to its simplicity and the comparatively small number of parts involved. From the manufacturing standpoint it is very economical due to the fact that practically all of the parts may be machine made by stamping and die casting operations and the parts are so designed as to facilitate assembly.

The arcuately curved cam webs 37 are stamped from disk 35 by an operation which preferably severs 4them from the disk at their side margins while leaving them integrally connected with the disk at their ends. The cam device operates very effectively and, needless to say, is far less expensive than a cast fit-ting of `similar confor'- mation.

I claim:

1. As a new article of manufacture, a cam lnember comprising a plate having an integral strip' severed therefrom along its sides and. connected thereto at' its ends, an intermediate portion of said strip being pressed out of the plane of laterally adjacent portions of said plate.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a cam member comprising a plate having an integral strip severed therefrom along its sides and connected thereto at its ends, an intermediate portion of said strip being pressed out of the plane of laterally adjacent. portions of said plate, and said strip being arc uately curved.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination with a switch casing provided with an aperture and arcuate slots substantially concentric with said aperture, of a shaft extending through said aperture, a contact closer on said shaft and a disk connected with .said shaft and provided with arcuate axially extending cam strips adapted to interact with said slots, said strips being receivable into said slots whe-n in registry therewith and being adapted to advance said Yshaft kaxially in moving out of registry with said slots.

4. In a device of the character described, the combination with an axially movable handle shaft and a circuit closer mounted thereon, of a casing provided with an aperture receiving said shaft and having arcuate slots concentric with said aperture, a plate mounted on said shaft and provided integrally with axially extending strips severed at their side margins from said plate and connected at their ends therewith, intermediate portions of said strips being pressed into axially extending apices positioned to be received into said slots when in registry therewith.

In a device of the character described, the combination with an axiallyV movable handle shaft and a circuit closer mounted thereon, of a casing provided with an aperture receiving said shaft and having arcuate slots concentric with said aperture, a plate mounted on said shaft and provided vintegrally with axially extending strips severed at their side margins from said plate and connected at their ends therewith, inten mediate portions of said strips being pressed into axially extending apices positioned to be received into said slots when in registry therewith., and a spring pressing said shaft in a direction tending to maintain said apices within said slots.

(i, A switch device providing a bearing, a handle guided for reciprocation and rotation in said bearing, a shaft extending from said handle, an apertured casing wall receiving Said shaft, a spring confined between said casing wall and said handle, a cam carried .by said shaft within said casing wall and adapted to interact therewith upon rotation of said. handle and in a direction to advance said shaft axially lo compress said spring, and a circuit closer carried by said shaft and adapted to be adjusted to ol'ierative position upon the axial moven'ient of said shaft iid cam comprising a disk connected with said shaft for rotation therewith and lo transmit axial movement in one direction thereof, and cam strips expressed integrally from said disk to provide axially projecting apices adapted to interact wi th said wall, said wall providing complementary surfaces.

7. A switch device providing a bearing, a handle guided for reciprmaation and rotation in said bearing, a shaft extending from said handle, an apertured casing wall rcceiving said shaft, a spring confined between said casing wall and said handle, a caln carried by said shaft within said casing wall and adapted to interact therewith in a direction to advance said shaft axially to compress said spring, and a circuit closer carried by said shaft and adapted to be adjusted to operative position upon the axial movement l lo lll)

lill) of said shaft, said cam compr' 'ig a disk connected with said shaft 'for vrotation therewith and to transmit axial movement 'in one direction thereof, and cani strips expressed integrally from said disk 'to provide axial-ly projecting apiees adapted to interact With said wall, said Wall being provided with arcuate slots adapted normally to receive said apices when said shaft is in rotative position such that said apices are in registry therewith.

8. The combination with an apertured switch casing and a bearing mounted externally thereof and aligned with `the aperture therein, of a handle reci-procably and rotatably mounted in said bearing` and provided in its inner end with an annular channel, a shaft projectingr from said handle through the aperture oit said casing, a spring' Wound about said shaft and con fined between the extremity of said channel and Lthe outer face of said easing, a limiting); mem-her on said shaft Within said casing', `and a cam disk splined to said shaft hetu'eensaid limiti-ngi' member and the apert-ured Wall of 'd casing, said ea-m disk 'being piov ded with an axially projecting cam and said raising` bein Aprovided Wit a complementary surface adapted to interact with said cam.

9. The combination with an apertured switch casing and a bearing),Y mounted extennfally thereof and aligned with the aperture therein, of a handle reciprocabiy and rotatably mounted in said bearing and provided in its inner end with an annular channel, a shaft projecting; from said handle ,through the aperture of said casing, a spring; Wound about said shaft and confined between ithe extremity of said channel ,and the outer face of said casing, a limiting member von said shaft within said casing, and a cani disk splined to said shaft between said limiting member and the apentured wall of said easing, said vcam disk bein-g provided with arcuate 4axially expressed strips connected with said disk at their ends and nxially lbowed intermediate their ends, and said casingr being provided with slots adapted, upon the rotation of said disk, to regis er with said strips and .to rer-,cire lthe Vaxially vbowed Aportions thereof.

10. ln a device vof the character deseriiufd the comlinati on with a haiulic, of a sha a head cast :in said handle,` a siuiared VAV.tion inimediateli;T yrdjaei d hanche. and a cj, Vdrcal section pro] u: beyond said squared section.-

li. a device of the charzmtrr described, the combination with a 1, of a shaft haringq `a head l t in sai( handle, a #mueren section im d i `l meent s i l, die

and a cylindrical sect-ion proje i. j beyend said squared section, and ret 'cellars on said shaft encircling said squared section and said cylindrical seccion.

.projecting l2. In a device .of the character described, the combination with a handle and a shaft projecting,l therefrom and including a squared section and a cylindrical section, of a cam ymember splined to said squared section, a collar on vsaid squared section remote from said handle, a circuit closer rotatably and axially movable on the cylindrical sec tion of said shaft, a ecoll-ar on said cylindrical section remote from said handle, and a springv acting axially of shaft `upon said circuit closer to press said circuit closer toward said last mentioned collar.

13. n a device of the'character described, the combina-tion with a handle and a shaft therefrom and =including Y a squared section and .a vcylindrical section, v,of a cam :member splined to saidsqua-red section, a collar on said squared section remote iii-.oni said handle, a circuit closer rotatably i .and axially movable on tliiecylindrical secthe iirst mentioned spring.

14. In a device of the .character descr1bed,'

the combination With a switch Acasing having apertured front and rea-r Wafllsrand a terminal mounted in its rear wall at one le Lof the aperture therein, of a handle axially adjustable through the apertures ,of said walls, -a spring lpressing said handle fon Wardly with respect to said casing', .a stop on a rear por-tion of said handle, la contactmember slidableon said handle to and ,from engagement With said stop, and a spring seated against a portion @of sa-id handle and urging said `contact inen-iber in the direction of said stop7 said. han'lfle .being axially adjustable to compress initially said tir` inentimied spring` and to compress said lastimentioned spring after said member Aenrages said terminal, together with am means mounted in part on said shaft Iand in part on said casing` and vadapted to interact -ugpon the rotation of said straft to .pro-

duce sustained axial niorvement of said shaft.

In a device of the character described, the combination with a switch casing having rperturred front and rear walls and 4a `terminal mounted in its rear Wall at one the aperture therein, .of a .handfleaxiahy :adji F"table thro h the apeitures of 'said Walls, )ring ,pre, sai-d handle forwardly respect to said casing, a stop on a rear ion of said ,hai-idle, a ,contact member l ale on said :har lieto and tore. :engagement with said stop, and a spring sea-ted affainst a -port-ion said han lglefanid inging said Contact -Inember in the direct-ion of said slop, said hand-le being axially adjustable to compress initially said first mentioned spring and to compress said last mentioned spring after said member engages said terminal, together with cam means mounted in part on said shaft and in part on said casing and adapted to interact upon the rotation of said shaft to produce sustained axial movement of said shaft, said cam means comprising a slotted wall insaid casing and a disk having axially offset portions receivable in the slot of said wall when aligned therewith and adapted to ride upon unslotted portions of said wall to maintain said member in contact with said terminal.

16. In a device of the character described, the combination with a switch casing providing a relatively stationary terminal, of a shaft normally freely adjustable axially in the direction of such terminal and provided with a stop in a portion adjacent thereto, a contact member slidable on said shaft to and from engagement with said stop and adapted during the axial adjustment of said shaft to contact said terminal and to be moved from said stop thereby, a spring urging said member in the direction of said stop, a second spring urging said shaft from said terminal` and complementary cam surfaces connected respectively with said casingV and said shaft and adapted upon rotation of said shaft to adjust said shaft axially in opposition to said second spring.

17. In a device of the character described, the combination with a switch casing providing a relatively stationary terminal, of a shaft normally freely adjustable axially in the direction of such terminal and provided with a stop in a portion adjacent thereto, a contact member slidable on'said shaft to and from engagement with said stop and adapted during the axial adjustment of said shaft to contact said terminal and to be moved from said stop thereby, a spring urging said member in the direction of said stop, a second spring urging said shaft from said terminal, and complementary cam surfaces connected Vrespectively with said casing and said shaft and adapted upon rotation of said shaft to adjust said shaft axially in opposition to said second spring, said cam surfaces being adapted upon rotation to given position releasably to maintain said shaft in an advanced position of axial adjustment.

18. In a device of the character described, the combination with a switch casing providing a relatively stationary terminal, of a shaft normally freely adjustable axially in the direction of such terminal and provided with al stop in a portion adjacent thereto, a contact member slidable on said shaft to and from engagement with said stop and adapted during the axial adjustment of said shaft to contact said terminal and to be moved from said stop thereby, a spring urging said member in t-he direction of said stop, a second spring urging said shaft from said terminal, and complementary cam surfaces connected respectively with said casing and said shaft and adapted upon rotation of said shaft to adjust said shaft axially in opposition to said second spring, said cam surfaces comprising a casing Wall having an arcuate slot and a cam disk having complementary strips axially pressed to apices and which are respectively receivable into said slots when in registry therewith and are adapted to ride on unslotted portions of said wall when not in registry with said slots.

19. In a device of the character described, the combination with a switch casing providing a relatively stationary terminal, of a shaft normally freely adjustable axially in the direction of such terminal and provided with a stop in a portion adjacent thereto, a contact member slidable on said shaft to and `from engagement with said stop and adapted during theaxia-l adjustment of said shaft to cont-act said terminal and to be moved from said stop thereby, a spring urging said member in the direction of said stop, `a second spring urging said shaft from said terminal, and complementary cam surfaces connected respectively with said casing and said shaft and adapted upon rotation of said shaft to adjust said shaft axially in opposition to said second spring, said shaft being axially Vmovable normally in each direction when in rotative positions in which said cam surfaces do not interact.

20. In a switch device, the combination with an apertured casing wall, of a bearing aligned with said aperture, a handle reciprocably and rotatably mounted in said bearing, a shaft secured to said handle and extending through said aperture and into the interior` of said casing, a compression spring confined between said casing and handle, a cam comprising a portion carried by said casing and a portion carried by said shaft and arranged to move said shaft axially inwardly of said casing upon manual rotation thereof, contacts carried by said casing, and a circuit closer carried by said shaft and adapted to engage said contacts upon inward movement of said shaft.

ROBERT K. WINNING.

lill) 

